Search Results (7,658)

The population density of susceptible animals, including domestic pigs and wild boar, is a major risk factor for the emergence of African Swine Fever outbreaks. The ASF foci in wild boar in Russia is sustained by the presence of the virus in the environment, which is primarily determined by the number of infected carcasses found. This study investigates the risk factors related to the occurrence of ASF virus among wild boar, identified through passive monitoring and depopulation control measures, by employing generalized logistic regression models and random forest analysis. The random forest regression outperformed logistic regression coefficient of determination (R² = 0.98 and R² = 0.88) according to the statistical modeling of ASF using different regression types. When comparing regression models, the results showed that wild boar population density, the number of hunting farms, the presence of infected carcasses, and ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs were the main predictors of epidemic in wild boar. The application of a multiple logistic regression model confirmed the significance of the identified risk factors, determining of the probability of ASF outbreaks among wild boar. Given the prolonged affected area across most regions of Russia, the random forest model proved to be the most effective and interpretable based on quality indicator assessments. By highlighting the important role of geographical conditions, identifying these risk factors enhances our understanding of ASF dynamics in specific regions and offers valuable information for decision-makers in developing targeted control strategies against this disease. Full article

Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is a key indicator of pig productivity, but its measurement is labor-intensive and time-consuming. This study aimed to construct a predictive model for cumulative feeding intake (CFI), which could help estimate FCR more efficiently and reduce the time and effort needed for measurements. This study included a total of 987 Yorkshire boars raised in specific pathogen-free environments, with feeding and growth data collected using automatic feeders. The segmented R package and Bayesian ridge regression (BRR) were used to build a predictive model for CFI. The results showed that the optimal body weight range for predicting FCR was 80–110 kg. The BRR model achieved 80% accuracy for CFI prediction, and FCR calculated from predicted CFI showed 81.4% similarity to the corrected FCR. The results clearly demonstrate that even with a limited training dataset, the BRR model has good predictive potential for FCR. The findings of this study could reduce the selection pressure on FCR traits, decrease production costs, and shorten measurement periods, ultimately benefiting the swine industry significantly. Full article

Background/Objectives: The porcine mammary anatomy is poorly characterized, and structures are difficult to differentiate macroscopically, unlike human mammary tissue. The objective of this exploratory study was to describe the Yucatan porcine breast tissue morphology and identify the basic differences and similarities to human breast tissue. Methods: Samples from an adult, non-parous female Yucatan pig were prepared utilizing various methods: freezing at −80 °F (−26.67 °C) with a thickness of 0.5 cm/post-fixation in formalin; freezing at −20 °F (−6.67 °C) with a thickness of 0.5 cm/post-fixation in formalin; or formalin fixed and incised at ~0.8 cm. A descriptive comparison of the gross and microscopic images of the porcine breast morphology to the previously described human breast anatomy was performed. Results: As examined grossly, frozen sections allowed narrower serial cross-sectioning and better visualization of the structures and relationships. The mammary glands were poorly demarcated with extensive interspersed adipose tissue throughout the periphery. The mammary tissue appeared grossly as pigmented tissue and extended within ~0.5 cm from the skin surface, ~2.0 cm deep (within ~0.5 cm of the deep muscle layer), and ~6.5 cm laterally (centered on a teat). There were a number of similarities between Yucatan porcine and human breast tissue, yet there were several inherent structural differences. In contrast to human mammary tissue, porcine mammary glands consist of more diffuse acinar tissue, less well demarcated by defined fascial, lamellar, and ligamentous structures. Conclusions: The Yucatan porcine mammary morphology and similarities to the human mammary region allow for the use of this animal model to guide those developing relevant technologies or performing local surgical interventions in the preclinical setting. Full article

The production of organic meat and dairy products relies on limited organic protein meal supplies. Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) may sustainably increase organic protein meal supplies. Using grain production trial data, research literature, and camelina feeding trial results, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil energy impacts were modeled for inclusion of 10% camelina meal in swine finishing diets using life cycle analysis (LCA). Two key grain production scenarios were examined: field trial relay (FTR) camelina and a higher yielding as expected relay (AER) camelina, with a baseline monocrop soybean (MCS). At the grain production stage, the FTR, AER, and MCS scenarios emitted 0.65, 0.43, and 0.13 kg of CO₂ eq./kg DM grain harvested, respectively. At the meal production stage, 0.61, 0.40, and 0.15 kg of CO₂ eq. were emitted per kg of protein meal from the FTR, AER, and MCS scenarios, respectively. GHG emissions from the finishing phase of pork production were 1.43, 1.38, and 1.31 kg CO₂ eq./kg live weight pigs produced for the FTR, AER, and MCS scenarios, respectively. Findings were similar for fossil energy use. The higher environmental burdens from camelina grain production due to reduced yields of both camelina and soybean resulted in negative environmental performance in camelina-amended diets. Full article

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in industrialized nations. AMD models based on standardized optimized cell culture models are warranted. The aim of this study is to implement a standard operation protocol for the preparation of porcine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) from pig eyes with cells from one eye designated for one culture, generating a genetic homology within one culture and genetic heterogeneity between cultures, thereby implementing a relevant in vitro model for AMD investigations. In addition, the use of pigs’ eyes from slaughterhouse waste material is an active measure to reduce animal experimentation in ophthalmological research. Methods: Primary porcine RPE cells were prepared, and cells from one eye were seeded into one well of a twelve-well polystyrene plate. They were cultured for 7, 14, and 28 days. Different post-mortem times (2, 4, and 6 h), coatings (collagen I, IV, Poly-d-Lysine, fibronectin, and laminin), and serum content of media (1%, 5%, and 10%) were tested. The success rate for confluence and survival was determined. At the different time points, cell number (trypan blue exclusion assay), confluence and morphology (microscope imaging), VEGF content of supernatants, and gene and protein expression, as well as tight junctions (fluorescence imaging), were examined. In addition, a baseline for RPE morphometry using CellProfiler software was established. Results: A post-mortem time of 4 to 5 h is most suitable. A coating with Poly-d-Lysine is recommended due to high success rates, the fastest confluence, the highest expression of RPE65, and suitable morphologic properties. The results for confluence, protein expression, and morphology showed that a reduction of 10% to 5% FBS is acceptable. Conclusion: A basic best practice protocol for the preparation of porcine single-eye cultures with optimized parameters was established and is provided. Full article

Vaccination is a common influenza A virus (IAV) control strategy for pigs. Vaccine efficacy depends on strain cross-protection and effective vaccination program implementation. We evaluated a multi-faceted IAV vaccination strategy which included (a) monthly surveillance of pigs at weaning, (b) selection of epidemiologically relevant strains from farms under surveillance, (c) updating IAV strains in custom-made vaccines, and (d) seasonal mass vaccination with custom-made vaccines given to sows in 35 farrow-to-wean farms within an integrated swine farm system. Reduction of IAV in pigs from vaccinated sows was determined by monthly monitoring of farms for 30 months by IAV rRT-PCR (PCR) testing of nasal wipes collected from litters of piglets at weaning. Hemagglutinin (HA) nucleotide and amino acid (AA) sequence homology of the circulating and vaccine strains was determined by pairwise alignment and AA comparison at antigenic sites. Of the 35 farms monitored, 28 (80%) tested positive at least once, and 481 (5.75%) of 8352 PCR tests were IAV positive. Complete HA sequences were obtained from 54 H1 (22 H1-δ_1B.2.1, 28 H1-γ_1A.3.3.3, and 4 H1-pdm_1A.3.3.2 clades) and 14 H3 (12 IV-A 3.1990.4.1 and 2 IV-B 3.1990.4.2 clades) circulating IAV strains. During the study, custom-made vaccines were updated three times (eight strains total) and administered to sows at five distinct time periods. The HA AA similarity between vaccine and circulating strains ranged from 95% to 99%; however, the 0 to 71% similarity at HA antigenic sites prompted the vaccine updates. Herd IAV prevalence decreased from 40% (14/35) to 2.9% (1/35), accompanied by a numerical reduction in IAV-positive samples post-vaccination. Our results support having a comprehensive approach to controlling influenza in swine herds that includes surveillance, vaccination, and careful program implementation to reduce IAV in pigs. Full article

Triatomines are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the agent of Chagas disease. Stercorarian transmission occurs when infectious parasites are passed in insect feces to vertebrates through the biting wound or mucosa. Defecating on hosts during or shortly after blood feeding is, therefore, critical for transmission, and delayed triatomine defecation behavior has been posited to contribute to a low incidence of human Chagas disease in the U.S. We allowed nymphal T. cruzi-infected and uninfected Triatoma gerstaeckeri (Stål, 1859) and Triatoma sanguisuga (LeConte, 1855) to interact with restrained guinea pigs and measured insect feeding and defecation events; South American Rhodnius prolixus (Stål, 1859; Latin America) served as a comparison group. In 148 trials, 40.0% of insects fed, of which 71.2% defecated. Compared to R. prolixus, T. gerstaeckeri had >9 times higher odds of feeding, and T. sanguisuga fed longer. Observations of defecation while feeding occurred across all three species. The post-feeding defecation interval (PFDI) of R. prolixus was significantly shorter (4.54 ± 2.46 min) than that of T. gerstaeckeri (9.75 ± 2.52 min) and T. sanguisuga (20.69 ± 8.98 min). Furthermore, the PFDI was shorter for TcI-infected insects compared to uninfected insects. Triatoma gerstaeckeri and T. sanguisuga are capable of stercorarian transmission, although the calculated metrics suggest they are less efficient vectors than R. prolixus. Full article

Porcine edema disease (ED), which causes enormous economic losses in pig farms, is caused by Shiga toxin type 2e (Stx2e) Escherichia coli (STEC), which frequently occurs in young piglets. In this study, we aimed to express a fused Stx2e peptide on a phage surface to generate an innovative sandwich ELISA for the detection of STEC antigen in field pig farming samples. The amino acid sequences at positions 241–319 were selected for capture antibody (T1D2) production. T1D2 was selected after the third round of biopanning, and it showed a high yield with no major impurities. T1D2-ELISA can detect recombinant modified Stx2e antigen, and the detection limit of the antigen was approximately below 20 pg/mL. The sensitivity of T1D2-ELISA was determined using five different stool samples, with a total of 25 stool samples. Positive Stx2e antigen samples were detected only in one of the 25 samples using T1D2-ELISA. The ELISA values of positive stool samples were >300 pg and <600 pg. In conclusion, we developed an innovative ELISA for the detection of STEC antigens in field pig farming samples. It can also be used to easily detect STEC antigens in porcine stool samples. We anticipate that our novel T1D2-ELISA method will enable the effective monitoring of STEC antigen content during industrial vaccine production. By leveraging this approach, we aimed to enhance production efficiency and ensure high-quality vaccines. Full article

To study the differences in meat quality and nutritional components between the local Shanghai pig breeds Meishan pig (MS), Shawutou pig (SWT), Fengjing pig (FJ), and the commercial Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) crossbred pigs, and to provide data support for the selection and breeding of superior pig breeds, this study selected 30 piglets each of three local pig breeds and DLY with similar birth ages and weights around 25 kg, fed them the same daily ration with uniform nutritional components, and slaughtered ten of them at around 100 kg weight for evaluation of differences in meat quality indicators (primarily intramuscular fat content, tenderness value, texture, etc.) and amino acid content among the varieties. The results indicated significant differences among the four pig breeds in intramuscular fat content, with MS having the highest content and significant differences in tenderness value compared to the other three breeds (p < 0.05). In terms of texture indicators, MS and SWT differed significantly from FJ and DLY in terms of hardness and fracturability indicators (p < 0.05), with certain differences existing among the four breeds in other indicators. In amino acid content, the differences in total amino acid content among the three Shanghai local pig breeds were not significant (p > 0.05), but all were significantly higher than DLY. Further analysis revealed significant differences in amino acid content between Shanghai local pig breeds and DLY, with Shanghai local pigs showing markedly higher levels of serine, proline, isoleucine, leucine, and histidine compared to DLY (p < 0.05). Regarding nucleotides, the cytidine monophosphate (CMP) indicator of MS differed significantly from the other three breeds (p < 0.05), SWT’s uridine monophosphate (UMP) indicator differed significantly from FJ and DLY, and FJ and DLY’s inosine monophosphate (IMP) indicator was significantly higher than MS and SWT (p < 0.05), while SWT’s adenosine monophosphate (AMP) indicator was significantly higher than the other three breeds (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the meat quality and nutritional composition of Shanghai local pigs are significantly superior to DLY, with MS exhibiting significantly better meat quality and nutrition compared to SWT and FJ among the three local pig breeds. Full article

As large-scale and intensive fattening pig farming has become mainstream, the increase in farm size has led to more severe issues related to the hierarchy within pig groups. Due to genetic differences among individual fattening pigs, those that grow faster enjoy a higher social rank. Larger pigs with greater aggression continuously acquire more resources, further restricting the survival space of weaker pigs. Therefore, fattening pigs must be grouped rationally, and the management of weaker pigs must be enhanced. This study, considering current fattening pig farming needs and actual production environments, designed and implemented an intelligent sorting system based on weight estimation. The main hardware structure of the partitioning equipment includes a collection channel, partitioning channel, and gantry-style collection equipment. Experimental data were collected, and the original scene point cloud was preprocessed to extract the back point cloud of fattening pigs. Based on the morphological characteristics of the fattening pigs, the back point cloud segmentation method was used to automatically extract key features such as hip width, hip height, shoulder width, shoulder height, and body length. The segmentation algorithm first calculates the centroid of the point cloud and the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix to reconstruct the point cloud coordinate system. Then, based on the variation characteristics and geometric shape of the consecutive horizontal slices of the point cloud, hip width and shoulder width slices are extracted, and the related features are calculated. Weight estimation was performed using Random Forest, Multilayer perceptron (MLP), linear regression based on the least squares method, and ridge regression models, with parameter tuning using Bayesian optimization. The mean squared error, mean absolute error, and mean relative error were used as evaluation metrics to assess the model’s performance. Finally, the classification capability was evaluated using the median and average weights of the fattening pigs as partitioning standards. The experimental results show that the system’s average relative error in weight estimation is approximately 2.90%, and the total time for the partitioning process is less than 15 s, which meets the needs of practical production. Full article

Jarosite residue (JR), a hazardous solid waste generated in non-ferrous metallurgy, poses significant environmental challenges due to its large volume and poor storage stability. However, its high content of valuable metals (such as iron, zinc, gallium, indium, silver, …) makes its efficient recovery and comprehensive utilization highly significant. This study investigates the “oxidative roasting–reductive smelting” process for JR treatment. The reduction thermodynamics of JR-R (roasted JR) were analyzed, and the effects of smelting temperature, time, and slag basicity on the reduction and smelting process were examined. The results indicate that increasing slag basicity and temperature generally decreases slag viscosity. Thermodynamic calculations demonstrate that reductive smelting effectively enriches valuable metals (>1039 °C). The optimal conditions for reductive smelting of JR were determined to be as follows: smelting temperature of 1550 °C, smelting time of 60 min, and slag basicity of 0.9. Under these conditions, the process achieved an Fe grade of 92.87% in pig iron with a recovery rate of 90.66%, a Ga grade of 377 g/t with a recovery rate of 94.91%, and Zn and In volatilization rates of 99.91% and 83.36%, respectively. This study provides a feasible approach for the comprehensive recovery of valuable metals such as Ga, Fe, Zn, and In from JR, offering promising economic and social benefits. Full article

Passiflora edulis Sims peel (Chinese name Baixiangguo, BXG) is a by-product with a high nutritional and economic value of Passiflora edulis Sims. In this study, corn was partly replaced with BXG to make feed for finishing pigs and the effects on the carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid profile, and gene expression of finishing pigs were evaluated. A total of 20 healthy finishing pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Large) were randomly divided into two groups. The control group (CON) was fed the basal diet, and the experimental group (BXG) was fed a basal diet with BXG instead of 10% corn for a period of 43 d. Compared to the CON group, the carcass weight, intramuscular fat content, and marbling score were significantly increased, while the drip loss, b^* value, and shear force of the BXG group were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Gene expression analysis showed that the mRNA expression of lipid synthesis and oxidative-type fiber related genes was significantly increased in the BXG group (p < 0.05). Proteomic research revealed that the metabolic pathways of the BXG and CON groups differed significantly. A total of 36 differentially expressed proteins were identified, mainly related to energy metabolism, fatty acid degradation, and endocrine regulation pathways. However, the contents of glutamine, glutamate, proline, and other amino acids in the BXG group were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Overall, this study has a positive effect on improving meat quality, but the specific mechanism needs to be further explored, which offers practical guidance for the application of BXG in producing higher-quality pork and further promotes its commercial application. Full article

Soft-tissue expansion is a critical challenge in regenerative oral surgeries. This scoping review maps the research on polymers used in osmotic self-inflating expanders, assessing their applications, characteristics, and potential in oral surgical procedures. The study analyzed 19 articles from the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, primarily focusing on in vivo research (78.9%) investigating polymeric tissue expanders. The review examined polymer compositions, methodologies, and tissue responses across various animal models. Osmed^® hydrogel was the most studied material, with research exploring its expansion capabilities in rabbits, goats, pigs, rats, and beagle dogs. The findings showed diverse tissue expansion ranges and minimal inflammatory responses, indicating the potential for oral surgical applications. Despite promising results, gaps such as inconsistent expansion measurements and the lack of standardized protocols were identified. These findings highlight the need for further research to develop new polymer formulations and optimize device design to enhance safety, efficacy, and clinical predictability. This review provides a foundation for advancing polymeric tissue expander technologies, offering the potential for safer and more effective minimally invasive regenerative oral surgeries. Full article

Endothelin Receptor Type B (EDNRB) is expressed in a variety of cells during embryonic stage, including melanocyte precursors cells. Our previous studies found that 11 bp deletion of EDNRB caused the two-end black (TEB) coat color in Chinese pigs. In this study, we aimed to explore the mutant EDNRB on the formation of TEB coat color in Chinese pigs. We constructed recombinant plasmid for wild and mutant EDNRB and EDN1, respectively, and transfected the recombinant plasmid into mouse B16 melanoma cells in groups. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect expression of genes that participate in melanin pathway, including PLCγ, Raf, MITF. Comparing to the wild-type EDNRB cells, expression of the three genes in the cell line expressing mutant EDNRB cells was significantly reduced. We measured the melanin content produced by transfected recombinant granulocytes of wild and mutant EDNRB and found that the amount of melanin in mutant EDNRB cells was significantly lower than that of the wild. Wound-healing assay confirmed that the migration and mobility rate of mutant EDNRB cells were significantly lower than the wild. Co-immunoprecipitation further confirmed that mutant EDNRB could not interact with the EDN1 protein. In conclusion, this study revealed that the 11 bp deletion of EDNRB reduced the melanin production, which may be caused by inhibiting the expression of PLCγ, Raf, and MITF. The mutant EDNRB reduced melanocyte migration and could not interact with the EDN1 protein. We explored the effect of mutant EDNRB in Chinese pigs with TEB coat color, and the results provided a reference for exploring molecular mechanism of mutant EDNRB on the formation of TEB coat color pigs. Full article

African swine fever (ASF), caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), poses a great threat to the global pig industry. There is an urgent demand for effective and safe vaccines to address this threat. This study reports the generation and evaluation of a recombinant Lactococcus lactis pool, each strain expressing one of eight ASFV antigens (F317L, H171R, D117L, E120R, B602L, CD2v, p54, and p72). We evaluated the immune responses in mice through oral gavage and intramuscular immunization to the recombinant L. lactis pool. The results show that the mice immunized via intramuscular injection induced high-level serum IgG antibodies within 7 d post-primary immunization, which was maintained over an extended period. Additionally, there was a marked increase in the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels in the sera. In contrast, the mice immunized via oral gavage did not induce obvious serum IgG antibodies. However, they experienced a transient peak of secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies in fecal samples within 7 d post-primary immunization, which subsequently decreased to levels that were statistically similar to those in the control group. In addition, this study also found that the multi-antigen cocktail vaccination was safe for mice. This study provides a reference for the development and immunization of ASF vaccines with L. lactis as live carriers. Full article